VOLUME
JULY 7, 2021 Free
NO. 37
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Astheworldterns. 6 Worker dies at construction site in BB. 2
Q&A 070721
islander.org
Beads! Patience pays off for young patriots
3
HB reviews building standards in wake of Surfside tragedy. 3 Pine Avenue study ongoing. 4
Meetings. 4 Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO
looking back. 7
DoT plays hardball with BB over high bridge. 8 longboat bridge scores lowest rating. 9
Save the date. 10
Happenings Island happenings. 11 BB considers giving voters options. 13
Gathering. 14 Top Notch contest opens. 15
Ellen Willis of Wesley Chapel was happy to see the Anna Maria Island Privateers Independence Day parade return July 3 after a hiatus for CoVID-19. “It was a great time! We were so glad it was back this year. We stay here every July and it is one of the highlights for sure,” she said in a post-parade email to The Islander. She shared the enthusiasm of her kids, top left, waiting in their seats for the parade: Maggie, 8, right, Willis, 5, center, and lochlan Mazzaro, 5, left, also from Wesley Chapel. The trio waited patiently for the Privateers to arrive to 62nd Street on their route from Bradenton Beach to Anna Maria, and they were rewarded by the pirates and other parade participants with plenty of colorful souvenir beads. This year’s parade had more than 100 participants — all rolling in golf carts, on bikes, aboard boats on trailers and truck beds. For more on the parade, see page 12. Islander Courtesy Photos
Parking debate escalates
Island map. 16-17
Islander Staff reports
Island worker faces child porn charges. 18
Streetlife. 18 MCSo: No charges in VIP vaccine scheme. 19 HB hammers out legislative priorities. 21
NESTING NOTES. 22 About the bay. 23 Adult soccer champs crowned. 24 Fishing vs. storms. 25 ISL BIZ.26
County pushes holiday parking expansion in Holmes Beach
CLASSIFIEDS. 28
A sign at the Manatee Avenue entrance to Holmes Beach July 4 advises motorists on Manatee Avenue at the landfall of the Anna Maria Island Bridge that overflow parking is available at Anna Maria Elementary School and the Island library. Both locations are in Holmes Beach. Story, page 5. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy
AMI TOURISM: 30
PropertyWatch. 30
NYT puzzle. 31
TS Elsa prompts states of emergency States of emergency at the Florida and local level were declared ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa, which was impacting Cuba July 5 and threatening Florida. Anna Maria commissioners held an emergency meeting July 2, ahead of the holiday weekend, and by unanimous vote enacted a local state of emergency. The declaration transfers power from the city commission to Mayor Dan Murphy for up to seven days — a term that could be extended if needed. The declaration allows Murphy “to take all actions necessary and appropriate to protect human life and property,” according to the resolution that granted the state of emergency. Despite the federal holiday, Anna Maria public works director Dean Jones said his crews would be on duty July 5. “This is our city, we need to make it safe,” Murphy said about his commitment to do what he must, including if necessary, TuRN To eMerGeNCY, PAGE 2
Storm ready? Eyes on Elsa, page 2. Check islander.org for updates on the storm and through the hurricane season.
Award-Winning Surfside Dining Call For Reservations: (941) 778 - 6444